Photo of the El Nopal restaurant in Sumas Washington on October 16, 2026 photo Fernando Gonzalez of Bellingham Metro News.
SUMAS, Wash. — El Nopal Family Mexican Restaurant, a longtime Mexican restaurant in downtown Sumas, is under new ownership following a difficult year for the business and the family that previously operated it.
The restaurant, located at 625 Cherry Street, is now being operated by Juan, Joaquin and Luis Suárez, originally from San Pedro in the municipality of Ayutla, Jalisco, Mexico, and they have deep ties to the Whatcom Community.
The ownership change was introduced this week through a series of videos published by Jalisco Sin Límites, a Facebook-based outlet that shares stories about Mexican culture, businesses and communities.
The videos introduce the new owners, offer a tour of the restaurant and provide a closer look at what customers can expect moving forward.
Inside El Nopal
A three-part look inside the longtime Sumas restaurant under new ownership.
Washington Department of Revenue records reviewed by Bellingham Metro News also show significant changes involving the restaurant’s business operations.
A newly registered company, El Nopalito Mexican Restaurant LLC, lists Juan José Suárez López and Luis Manuel Suárez López as members.
The company registered the trade name El Nopalito Mexican Restaurant on September 24, 2026, and received its Sumas general business endorsement on September 29. Both the business location and city endorsement were listed as active as of October 14.
The previous business entity, El Nopal Family Mexican Restaurant LLC, also remains listed as active in state records for the mean time at-least. The filings do not establish the exact date or terms of the ownership transfer, and it remains unclear whether the restaurant will officially adopt the El Nopalito name.
Inside El Nopal
In the videos shared by Jalisco Sin Límites, the new operators welcome customers and show several areas of the restaurant, including its dining room, full bar and entertainment spaces.
One of the videos highlights a separate area available for private gatherings, with the speakers indicating it can accommodate approximately 50 people.
The footage shows the restaurant decorated with colorful Mexican papel picado banners hanging throughout the interior. The operators also discuss private reservations and the restaurant's ability to accommodate special occasions.
Additional footage shared by Jalisco Sin Límites highlights the restaurant's pool table, karaoke offerings and large projection screen. The space can also be used for celebrations and gatherings, including quinceañeras, according to the videos.
The restaurant continues to welcome customers seven days a week, according to the new operators.
The ownership change comes after an especially difficult period in El Nopal's history.
Earlier this year, longtime and beloved co-owner Wendy Gonzalez passed away following a sudden illness, according to a community fundraiser organized by Stefanie Garfias.
Gonzalez previously operated the restaurant alongside her husband, Jose Arroyo-Gonzalez, and was remembered by people of Sumas and beyond for helping create a welcoming place for families and customers throughout the area.
The fundraiser was established to assist with medical and funeral expenses while supporting the family's efforts to keep the restaurant operating following her death.
El Nopal had also experienced repeated setbacks from flooding in recent years.
In January 2026, Cascadia Daily News reported on the restaurant's recovery from the December 2025 flooding, which followed another major flood in November 2021.
At the time, Gonzalez described the financial and emotional strain the repeated disasters had placed on the business.
The restaurant had been closed for months following the 2021 flooding but was able to reopen approximately one week after the December 2025 flood. However, the business continued to struggle with reduced customer traffic and staffing challenges.
Despite those setbacks, El Nopal has remained a routine place to eat and gather for Sumas residents, families throughout eastern Whatcom County and visitors traveling through the nearby United States-Canada border crossing.
The new ownership comes as the restaurant continues serving customers from its longtime Cherry Street location.
Juan and Luis Suárez are now encouraging residents and visitors to stop by and get acquainted with the people running the business.
Further details about any planned changes to the restaurant's menu, branding or operations have not yet been publicly confirmed.
El Nopal is located at 625 Cherry Street in Sumas, Washington.
Bellingham Metro News acknowledges Jalisco Sin Límites for its original video coverage and interviews introducing the new operators. Additional reporting includes Washington Department of Revenue business records, previous coverage by Cascadia Daily News and the public community fundraiser organized for Wendy Gonzalez's family.
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